Fitness Road Test: Federal Golf Club
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In researching this article, I typed “women in golf” into Google.
The top result was ‘The 20 Hottest Women in Golf’ on Men’s Health, with a link right next to it to a charming article title ’19 glorious butt selfies you have to see to believe’.
Clearly, this is another sport where women are grossly misrepresented (emphasis on gross).
In all honesty, golf isn’t really a sport that I’d ever seriously considered participating in. In part, this was due to a lack of interest – but also because it seemed so inaccessible. Even if I did want to play a social game of golf, I wouldn’t know where to start.
Enter the Federal Golf Club’s SWinG (Supporting Women in Golf) Team – a program specifically developed for women new to the game, or those wishing to develop their game further.
The first component of the program is the clinic, where Assistant Professional Jason Pavese takes the team through some drills and teaches them basic skills.
I arrived at the Federal Golf Club at 8am on a Monday morning where I met Jason and the other ladies participating in the clinic. First up is some driving (the golf kind, not the golf cart kind).
Jason has this charming way of explaining the very basics of golf without making you feel like a total idiot. I didn’t have to show that I didn’t even know how to hold a golf club, because Jason demonstrated this before he handed them over. He used other sports to explain how to grip and swing the club so that it didn’t seem like such a foreign concept. Before I knew it I had (almost) stopped missing the ball and was having some decent hits.
We then moved on to chipping, where after a short demonstration from Jason I was surprised at how quickly I felt like I almost knew what I was doing. There were only four of us, so Jason provided each of us with individual attention – congratulating us on our good hits and explaining why each of our not-so-good ones hadn’t quite gone to plan.
Next, we were introduced to seasoned golfer Michelle, who offered to take us to play a round of nine holes. What I really loved was her honesty about how she had once been a beginner missing the ball and worried about ‘slowing down’ other golfers.
This took a lot of the pressure off and made me feel really comfortable about being a beginner.
After returning to the Pro Shop to borrow some clubs, Michelle, myself and Kelly, another lady who participated in the clinic, set out on the course. I think one of the greatest things about SWinG is having someone take you around the golf course and explain things like etiquette. For example, when I unwittingly wheeled my clubs across the green, Michelle gently explained that you always wheel around the green, and not over it.
I loved how chatty and welcoming Michelle and Kelly were. They didn’t laugh when I did the wrong thing, they cheered for every good shot, and whenever I had a terrible hit they gently explained what might have gone wrong, and gave me tips on improving.
We only played four holes before it started raining, but I enjoyed every moment. We took respite from the rain in the golf club’s café and chatted over coffee with other female golfers.
The truth is that I never thought that I’d enjoy playing golf – but I really did. There’s something addictive about it – the thwack when the club hits the ball, the satisfaction of a great hit… it has a lot going for it. There’s a lot of skill involved, so learning the technique and putting it into practice is fun. It’s hands-on, there’s lots of walking, and the course itself is stunning.
The social aspect really can’t be overlooked. I turned up by myself and was truly welcomed with open arms. Even though I’d never met Michelle or Kelly, I had so much fun playing golf with them. It’s a lovely way to meet other women and the perfect environment for learning a new skill.
New members are offered three complimentary nine-hole rounds when they first join the group, so you can get some practice and get the ball rolling, so to speak.
SWinG is held on designated Mondays (the next one is 27 April), with clinics running from 8am-9am, and 9.15 – 10.15am.
the essentials
What: Federal Golf Club’s SWinG (Supporting Women in Golf) Team
When: Designated Mondays
Where: Federal Golf Club, Gowrie Drive, Red Hill
How much: $15 per session
Website: www.federalgolf.com.au/cms/i-am/a-female-golfer
This is a sponsored editorial. For more information on sponsored editorials, click here.
Photography by Martin Ollman
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